AI in Grant Application and Management: Strategies, Risks and Considerations [Fall 2024 HRA Members Meeting; October 1, 2024]
Artificial intelligence tools are becoming widespread and more robust across various disciplines. This session focused on the promises and perils of AI for funders to integrate AI for efficient grant making process. What funder workstreams could be made easier, faster, or more insightful with artificial intelligence? What are the concerns around privacy, biases, or truth that should be considered? This session introduced a range of ways in which funders are using or considering artificial intelligence in the grant application process.
For additional information about AI, please reference the AI and LLM Learning Community Page.
Moderator
Kevin Sia, PhD
Program Officer for Medical Research | Doris Duke Foundation
As program officer for medical research at the Doris Duke Foundation, Kevin Sia manages and evaluates competitive grant programs and actively contributes scientific expertise and knowledge to build relationships with existing grantees.
Prior to joining the foundation in 2021, Kevin was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He has a research background in immunology and microbiology, particularly focused on vaccine immunity and antibiotic resistant pathogens.
Kevin earned a Doctor of Philosophy in immunology and molecular pathogenesis from Emory University, where he trained at the Emory Vaccine Center.
Presenters
Andrea Brandon
Deputy Assistant Secretary; Budget, Finance, Grants and Acquisition | US Department of the Interior
Ms. Andrea Brandon is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Budget, Finance, Grants and Acquisition within the Department of Interior (DOI). As the DAS she has executive responsibility for the leadership and strategic direction of all budget, finance, financial assistance, acquisitions, property, and related business IT systems for the DOI. This portfolio comprises of more than $5.3 Billion in financial assistance and contract awards across the United States. She was formerly the DAS for the Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability (OGAPA), the Senior Procurement Executive, and the Suspension and Debarment Official for the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, she was the Director for Financial Assistance Policy and Oversight at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and an Executive Assistant Director for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Andrea has broad experience in risk management, audits, internal controls, information technology innovation, acquisition management, grants, and financial operations in her federal career of 35 years.
Andrea has led several government‐wide initiatives: Co-Chair for the Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR), Co-chair for the Financial Assistance Committee on E-gov; Government Financial Assistance Representative on the DATA Act Interagency Advisory Committee (IAC), Program Manager for the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act (FFAMIA) Grants Streamlining Initiative; Chair of the OMB CFO Council’s Grants Training and Certification Workgroup; and the Transparency Act Grant Sub- award Pilot Subcommittee. She is currently the Co-chair for the Grants Management Symposium working group for the National Academy of Public Administration and the OMB Chief Acquisition Officers (CAO) Council; and is on the Federal Acquisition Institute Board of Directors.
She is the recipient of the Govtech Connects IGNITE 2024 Powerful Women Igniting Digital Transformation, the National Grants Management Association (NGMA) 2016 Newton Award, and the NGMA 2017 Director’s Award. Each award recognizes Ms. Brandon’s expertise, vision, innovation, and leadership.
She is a member of National Grants Management Association and a Member of the Key Executive Leadership Program Speaker’s Bureau, American University, 2024.
Ms. Brandon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences from the University of Maryland, a Master’s in Public Administration from American University and a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society; and a Master’s in Legal Studies from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law.
Chantal Forster
AI Strategy Resident | Annenberg Foundation
Chantal (Coco) Forster is a nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology and society. She is the co-author of the “Responsible AI Adoption Framework for Philanthropy” and the former Executive Director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG). Chantal is passionate about using technology as a force for good and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and psychological safety.
Starting her career in predictive AI with SPSS, Chantal’s career has come full circle as she now advises philanthropic organizations on the ethical and strategic use of AI.
On a personal note, Chantal is a wetlands steward, a certified forest therapy guide, and a beekeeper based in Chicago, IL.
Jennifer Hall, PhD
Chief of Data Science, Co-Director of the Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine | American Heart Association
Dr. Jennifer Hall is the Chief of Data Science and the co-director of the Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine at the American Heart Association. She leads the Association’s groundbreaking initiatives in cardiovascular medicine by leveraging data analysis, new technologies and strategic alliances to fulfill the promise of precision medicine: that integrating real-world data can enable and accelerate the development of innovative solutions to prevent or mitigate the impact of chronic diseases.
At the intersection of health, technology and science, Dr. Hall leads a highly diversified team of experts in data science, health research, metrics and evaluation, health technology and products. These powerful factors come together to drive new evolutions in science through the Association’s Precision Medicine Platform, a cloud-based technology solution that empowers the global medical research community to accelerate breakthroughs in cardiovascular and brain diseases. Dr. Hall also leads the Research Goes Red initiative, which calls on women throughout the U.S. to contribute to health research. Dr. Hall oversees a diversified research grant portfolio focused on funding impactful and groundbreaking areas of health research. Since 2013, the Institute has invested more than $30 million in 95 grant awardees ranging from collaborative teams of geneticists and engineers to data scientists and imaging experts.
Dr. Hall is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota and has served on numerous national and international committees. She is the past Chair of the Functional Genomics and Translational Biology Council of the American Heart Association and was the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research.